BIOGRAPHY
J.T. Hassell was born on August 14th, 1995, in Titusville, Florida. He currently plays strong safety for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL.
Prior to his college career, Hassell attended Astronaut High School in Titusville, Florida. He recorded more than 100 tackles in each of his varsity seasons. Hassell earned all-conference, All-Space Coast and second-team all-state honors during a prep career in which he forced 20 fumbles, intercepted five passes and scored four touchdowns.
Prior to Florida tech, Hassel attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. He played in 26 games as a freshman and sophomore. Hassell started 14 games as a freshman. He recorded 62 career tackles (32 solo, 30 assisted and notched a tackle for loss in collegiate debut, at Missouri.
During his junior season in 2017, Hassel was named second Team All-GSC. He led the team and finished fifth in GSC with 78 total tackles, 48 solo tackles, and 30 assisted stops. He recorded 9.0 tackles for loss totaling 30 yards. He tallied 2.0 sacks for 14 yards. Hassel intercepted one pass and returned eight yards and forced six pass breakups.
In 2018 during his senior season, Hassell led GSC in tackles (124), tackles per game (10.3), and solo tackles (76). He ranked 1st in the league in forced fumbles (3), as well as sixth in tackles for loss (9.5) and seventh in sacks (4.5). Hassel set program single-game records for total tackles (20.0) and sacks (4.0) and set school records for single-season tackles (124) as well as the record for most tackles (20) and sacks (4.0) in a single game.
Hassell signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
On December 11, 2020, Hassell was signed to the New York Jets' active roster.
